Incredible laser pictures show HS2’s path of destruction – and now man behind them wants to photograph the Vale

Adam King

A photographer who uses state-of-the-art lasers to show how HS2 will cut through the countryside is bringing his project to Aylesbury Vale.

Mark King’s photos show two laser beams replicating the track – illustrating in a vivid way just how the controversial rail line will forever change the landscape.

The line runs through the garden of this beautiful home in South Heath. The lasers show the width of the track but its actual footprint is much wider PNL-151012-164458001

Having covered much of south Bucks, the 41-year-old now hopes landowners in Aylesbury Vale will invite him to take pictures.

“That would be nice because it makes my life a little easier, rather than turning up on people’s doorsteps looking a little bit dodgy and asking if I can take a picture of their garden,” he joked.

Mr King has already taken a photo at Ellesborough Road in Wendover, where properties would be demolished.

He iskeen to take photos at the golf club in Fairford Leys, where the track would literally cut through holes on the course.

HS2 cuts through these fields in South Heath PNL-151012-164423001

He said his work is an ‘artistic interpretation of something quite fundamentally aggressive’.

“They are beautiful pictures but they are hauntingly beautiful.”

The New Zealander has lived with his British wife and four-year-old daughter in Old Amersham for about a year.

“Coming from New Zealand I had a natural connection with the landscape.

Shardeloes Lake between Old Amersham and Little Missenden. HS2 will actually go under the lake, hence the blue lasers PNL-151012-164438001

“I had lived in London since 2000 and when I came here I reconnected with nature and this inspired me to do a new project. While I was travelling around Bucks I came across all these HS2 signs and it hadn’t been on my radar. I thought it could make for an interesting project. I thought about what I could do that has not been done before and looked at ways of making lines on the landscape and finally got to lasers.”

As traditional lasers only show up in the dark, Mr King was told it couldn’t be done – which instantly made him think, ‘that sounds interesting’.

Mr King, who was named one of the top 200 ad photographers in the world by an industry magazine, has now invented a way to photograph the lasers, which he is keeping a closely guarded secret.

His work has attracted the attention of The Telegraph and Country Life magazine and he is keen to do an exhibition in Aylesbury of his work.